Jets hand Ottawa another loss

On Thursday, the Ottawa Senators’ trip down misery lane continued with a 5-1 thumping at the hands of the Jets in Winnipeg.

Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves to get the win.

“I got into a rhythm and got into it early,” Hellebuyck said. “We killed where they wanted to go with the puck and then we created some battles which we came out on top of. It was getting the puck to stop moving, and then jump on them.”

Josh Norris had the only goal for Ottawa in the third period when he cut the Jets’ lead to 4-1.

“It’s one of the best goalies in the world over there tonight,” Norris said. “He made some really good saves. We kind of laid an egg in the second, obviously. I think [Hogberg] bailed us out a few times too in the third. We kind of left him out to dry there at the start.”

Neal Pionk had a goal in the win.

“We took it to them for 20 minutes and it was 0-0,” Senators head coach D.J. Smith said. “We’ve probably got to score a goal there. We know they’re going to turn it up. And they get one, and then a power play at the end [of the second period] and that’s it.”

Paul Stastny, Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler scored in the middle frame for a 3-0 lead to the Jets.

“[The power play] was about getting those shots and then getting those rebounds and playing quick, instead of trying to slow it down,” Stastny said. “You open up seams like that and you just don’t hesitate. When you can play downhill like that, offensively it’s easier because you kind of just know where the puck is going.”

Mathieu Perreault extended the lead to 4-0 with an early strike in the third for Winnipeg.

“Neal now is back to form to where he played the second half of last year,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “Man, he’s starting to jump into holes. His quickness is back. He’s been a good, good player for us. … Neal is looking sharp.”

Matt Murray got the start for the Sens and yielded three goals and made 12 saves; he was given the hook in the second intermission.